Full Breakdown
Health Crisis in Immigration Detention: The Case of Toddler Amalia
2/8/2026, 1:12:20 AM
Life-Threatening Illness in Detention
An 18-month-old girl, Amalia, was hospitalized with life-threatening respiratory failure after being held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas. Her family, originally from Venezuela, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in December 2024 after seeking asylum. Following a rapid decline in her health, Amalia was admitted to a hospital in San Antonio on January 18, 2025, where she was treated for pneumonia, Covid-19, and respiratory distress. Despite her serious condition, she was returned to detention just days after her discharge, where she was reportedly denied necessary medication.
Conditions at Dilley Immigration Processing Center
The Dilley facility, operated by CoreCivic under a federal contract, has faced scrutiny for its treatment of detained families. Reports indicate that detainees, including children, experience inadequate medical care, poor nutrition, and psychological distress. Advocates argue that the conditions at Dilley are detrimental to the health and well-being of children. Amalia's parents, Kheilin Valero Marcano and Stiven Arrieta Prieto, assert that their daughter’s health deteriorated significantly during their confinement, prompting repeated visits to the facility's medical clinic, which yielded minimal assistance.
Legal Action and Advocacy
After Amalia's hospitalization, her lawyers filed an emergency habeas corpus petition, arguing that her continued detention posed a severe risk to her health. Medical experts supported this claim, warning that returning a medically fragile child to detention without access to prescribed treatments could lead to dire consequences. Following the legal intervention, Amalia and her mother were released from detention on January 28, 2025. Elora Mukherjee, a law professor involved in the case, described the situation as "outrageous," emphasizing the severe risks posed to Amalia's health by her detention.
Broader Implications and Criticism
Amalia's case highlights systemic issues within the U.S. immigration detention system, particularly regarding the treatment of vulnerable populations. Critics, including pediatric experts and immigrant rights advocates, have called for reforms to ensure the safety and health of children in detention. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has defended its practices, asserting that detainees receive basic necessities and that officials work to maintain safety. However, the ongoing scrutiny and legal challenges suggest a growing demand for accountability and change within the immigration enforcement framework.
Verbatim Quotes
- “She was at the brink of dying,” — Elora Mukherjee, Columbia Law School Professor
- “After baby Amalia had been hospitalized for 10 days, ICE thought this baby should be returned to Dilley, where she was denied access to the medicines that the hospital doctors told her she needed,” — Elora Mukherjee
- “I imagine they’re going to carry the trauma of this experience for the rest of their lives,” — Elora Mukherjee
What's Next
The release of Amalia and her mother may not mark the end of their struggles, as they face the psychological impacts of their detention experience. Legal advocates continue to push for systemic reforms to improve conditions in immigration detention facilities across the United States, emphasizing the need for humane treatment of all detainees, especially children.
